Her photo, Man in the Mangrove, is intended to show the value of mangrove ecosystems to local communities and particularly to traditional fishermen around the world.

Dr Mukherjee said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be selected for the award.

“The photograph was taken in Kannur, Kerala, India. I was on my way to a research site when I came across a lone traditional fisherman. The mist rising out of the water, the slow pace of both my own boat and that of the fisherman, the gently rising tide and silence that surrounded us symbolise the beauty of that moment when the picture was taken.”

The “people and nature” category called for photographers to provide an interesting and original take on how people are part of the global ecosystem, as opposed to separate from it.

“I believe that the time for ‘people and nature’ has finally arrived. Its recognition was long overdue amongst biologists working on biodiversity issues,” said Dr Mukherjee.

The annual competition received entries from international ecologists and students, capturing flora and fauna from across the planet. Subjects ranged from African wild dog research to an artistic take on Galapagos iguanas.

The winners were selected by an independent judging panel, which included six eminent ecologists and award-winning wildlife photographers.

Professor Richard Bardgett, President of the BES, said: “Some images have the power to say much more than words.

“The high standard of submissions this year made selecting winners a big challenge. Some entries captured fleeting and intimate insights into animals’ lives, which requires technical prowess and patience to achieve. We congratulate all winners and thank all the participants for their submissions.”

As well as receiving £40 worth of Oxford University Press vouchers, Dr Mukherjee’s photo will be displayed at the Society’s annual conference in Birmingham next month alongside all of the winning images. The conference will bring together 1,200 ecologists from more than 40 countries to discuss the latest research.